NLRB Ruling to Require Employers to Notify Employees of Right to Join a Union

As expected, on August 26, 2011, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued its final rule, effective on November 14, to require most private-sector employers to post a notice informing employees of their right to unionize under the National Labor Relations Act. The notice is identical to the one the Department of Labor (DOL) requires government contractors to post pursuant to President Obama’s 2009 Executive Order.

One Voice (the joint lobbying arm of PMA and NTMA) joined with other employer groups, such as the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace, in filing comments earlier this year opposing the notice and the precedent of permitting the NLRB to impose penalties beyond those provided in the current law. With three Democrats and one Republican on the NLRB, most expected the poster rule to pass, especially with Board Member Craig Becker pushing union priorities (One Voice successfully fought Becker’s Senate nomination vote, however the former AFL-CIO lawyer received a recess appointment).

A fact sheet with further information about the rule, copies of the notice and information on compliance is available on the NLRB website, www.nlrb.gov/ node/1526.

One Voice will continue to fight against regulations such as this that harm the local community’s employer-employee relationship.